Independence Twp. seeks to boot sewer authority member
Larry Stimpson does not want to leave his position as an appointed member of Independence-Cross Creek Joint Sewage Authority, but Independence Township is seeking to boot the former resident of the municipality on grounds he’s no longer eligible to serve on the board because he moved to Wellsburg, W.Va.
Four members from Independence and three from Cross Creek Township comprise the seven-member board.
A petition filed in Washington County Common Pleas Court Aug. 30 and signed by Independence Township solicitor Gary Sweat said in order to be a standing member of a board, the person must be a citizen, taxpayer or business owner in the municipality the member represents.
“If you’re a resident or taxpayer, you have a genuine economic interest for your constituents,” Sweat said.
In a July 21 letter, Stimpson said his position on the board of trustees of Independence Township Methodist Church should satisfy residency requirements.
“As of (June 21) I will not resign my seat on the Cross Creek-Independence (Sewer Authority) board. I will stay to see this project through and finish out my term (expiring in January 2018). Because I DO have ties there since I am on (the church board) and we have been trying to install a bathroom at our church for years – won’t pass the perk test – and that gives me ties to stay. … I’ve had several calls from people telling me I should stay and voice their opinion to keep the project going to help the community,” said Stimpson’s letter.
The authority project referenced by Stimpson is a proposed system upgrade for 37,000 feet of main connections, 1,100 feet of sewer, 129 grinder pumps and a pump station that would serve about 100 residents, according to an August news release from state Sen. Camera Bartolotta’s office. The project hasn’t moved forward because of stalemated votes on a $5.6 million loan from PennVest that would fund the project.
“We’re looking to bid the project so we can keep tap-in fees and rates down, and maybe finance something cheaper than the $5.6 million loan. But we’re still investigating,” said Cross Creek board member Rob Gagliani.